The immediate-past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has observed that there is the need for Nigerian academics to have greater interest in improving the literary industry.
Aregbesola spoke during a book presentation on Odia Ofeimun, titled: “In Search of Common Morality” in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Odia Ofeimun, is a poet, polemicist and polymath.
He was born in Iruekpen-Ekuma, Edo, Nigeria, on March 16, 1950.
Ofeimun is the author of many volumes of poetry, books of political essays and on cultural politics, and the editor of significant two anthologies of Nigerian poetry.
Aregbesola said there should be more literary works by eminent Nigerians instead of importing works from outside the country.
“We should support and promote intellectuals as Ofeimun.
“ Ofeimun is a toast of love for some of us who have interest in the society on how to tweak it and he represents the best in all of us, ” he said.
Speaking, Femi Falana, a SAN and Human Rights Activist, commended writers who made contributions to the book and thanked the editors for the compilations and for honouring Ofeimun.
Falana described the poet as a man who deserved all the honour that could be given to him while alive for his commitment to the literary advancement of the country.
“ I am delighted to be here to celebrate our own wonderful brother, I thank the organisers and hope that we can have regular fora to discuss and celebrate our heroes,” he said.
According to Reuben Abati, the Book Reviewer, Ofeimun is a man known for taking everything he does seriously, it is this single minded devotion to his crafts that has been responsible for his Poetic Genius.
Abati described Ofeimun as one of the most impactful, productive, influential public intellectual that Nigeria had produced in the last four decades.
“ His contributions to poetry, journalism, literature and state presentation formed a formidable part of his multi-dimensional influence is actively engaged citizen of our time.
“ He is committed to virtually every facet of his personal as a poet, writer, journalist, dramatist, producer, essayist, publisher, literary critic and entrepreneur.
“ It is noteworthy that these publications are the amalgamation of the man himself, essentially, the book ‘ The Search of Common Morality’ is a product of conference in his honour in March 2020,” he said.
“ The editors have done a remarkable job by putting a fence around that year 2000 event.
GUARDIAN/NAN
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
